Michael Oliver (Carleton president)
Encyclopedia
Michael Kelway Oliver, OC
(February 2, 1925 – September 29, 2004) was a Canadian
academic, political organizer and the sixth president of Carleton University
in Ottawa
, Ontario
.
Oliver was born in North Bay, Ontario
on February 2, 1925. He finished his BA, MA and PhD studies at McGill University
in 1948, 1950 and 1957 respectively. He stayed at McGill to teach economics and political science, eventually founding the school's French Canada Studies program. From 1967 to 1972, he was McGill's vice-principal (academic).
While teaching at McGill, Oliver became actively interested in the left-wing Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
(CCF). When that party morphed into the New Democratic Party
in 1961, Oliver was its first federal president, a post he held until 1963. He then began a six-year stint as research director of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
, a body co-chaired by then Carleton University president Davidson Dunton
— the man Oliver would eventually replace in 1972.
Oliver's tenure as Carleton's president was a period of serious financial hardship for the university owing to dwindling provincial funding and a post-baby-boom decline in enrolment growth. Oliver's cutbacks did not endear him to the faculty, but the student government would later name its flagship campus bar Oliver's after him.
Oliver never lost his sense of humour, nor his capacity for being frank. At the Fall Convocation in 1978 (his last), his speech included the following sentence: "I came to Carleton the same way I am leaving: 'Fired with enthusiasm'".
From 1993 to 1996, Oliver was national president of the United Nations Association
in Canada. From 1980, he was the first president of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
.
Oliver married Joan Nelson in 1941 and had five children: David, James, Victoria, Geoffrey and Cynthia. He died two years after being inducted into the Order of Canada
.
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
(February 2, 1925 – September 29, 2004) was a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
academic, political organizer and the sixth president of Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
Oliver was born in North Bay, Ontario
North Bay, Ontario
North Bay is a city in Northeastern Ontario, Canada. It is the seat of Nipissing District, and takes its name from its position on the shore of Lake Nipissing.-History:...
on February 2, 1925. He finished his BA, MA and PhD studies at McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
in 1948, 1950 and 1957 respectively. He stayed at McGill to teach economics and political science, eventually founding the school's French Canada Studies program. From 1967 to 1972, he was McGill's vice-principal (academic).
While teaching at McGill, Oliver became actively interested in the left-wing Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation
The Co-operative Commonwealth Federation was a Canadian political party founded in 1932 in Calgary, Alberta, by a number of socialist, farm, co-operative and labour groups, and the League for Social Reconstruction...
(CCF). When that party morphed into the New Democratic Party
New Democratic Party
The New Democratic Party , commonly referred to as the NDP, is a federal social-democratic political party in Canada. The interim leader of the NDP is Nycole Turmel who was appointed to the position due to the illness of Jack Layton, who died on August 22, 2011. The provincial wings of the NDP in...
in 1961, Oliver was its first federal president, a post he held until 1963. He then began a six-year stint as research director of the Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism
The Royal Commission on Bilingualism and Biculturalism was a Canadian royal commission established on 19 July 1963, by the government of Prime Minister Lester B...
, a body co-chaired by then Carleton University president Davidson Dunton
Arnold Davidson Dunton
Arnold Davidson Dunton, was a Canadian educator and public administrator.He was educated at Lower Canada College, Montréal, and at universities in Canada, France, Britain, and Germany. He worked as a reporter on the Montreal Star 1935-37, as associate editor 1937-38, and was editor of the...
— the man Oliver would eventually replace in 1972.
Oliver's tenure as Carleton's president was a period of serious financial hardship for the university owing to dwindling provincial funding and a post-baby-boom decline in enrolment growth. Oliver's cutbacks did not endear him to the faculty, but the student government would later name its flagship campus bar Oliver's after him.
Oliver never lost his sense of humour, nor his capacity for being frank. At the Fall Convocation in 1978 (his last), his speech included the following sentence: "I came to Carleton the same way I am leaving: 'Fired with enthusiasm'".
From 1993 to 1996, Oliver was national president of the United Nations Association
United Nations Association
The United Nations Associations are non-governmental organizations that exist in various countries to enhance the relationship between the people of a member state and the United Nations, raise public awareness of the UN and its work, promote the general goals of the UN and act as an advisory body...
in Canada. From 1980, he was the first president of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives is an independent, non-partisan, policy research institute in Canada that leans to the political left. It concentrates on economic policy, international trade, environmental justice and social policy. It is especially known for publishing an alternative...
.
Oliver married Joan Nelson in 1941 and had five children: David, James, Victoria, Geoffrey and Cynthia. He died two years after being inducted into the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
.
External links
- Obituary, Ottawa Citizen, Oct. 1, 2004. (Reprinted on UNA website, last accessed July 24, 2006.)